NUJ @ 70: Former NAWOJ National President Evelyn Onyilo Honoured with Distinguished Service and Leadership Award

By Iyojo Ameh

The former National President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Evelyn Onyilo, has been honoured with the Distinguished Service and Leadership Award for her exceptional contributions to the advancement of women in journalism and ethical media practice in Nigeria.

The award was presented by the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahya, during a ceremony held in Abuja.

Evelyn Onyilo led NAWOJ from 2002 to 2004, a period marked by systemic challenges for women in the media including gender discrimination, underrepresentation in leadership, and limited access to training opportunities. Despite these hurdles, she was credited with transforming NAWOJ into a stronger, more visible platform for advocacy, unity, and empowerment of female journalists nationwide.

Under her leadership, the association expanded its reach across Nigeria, strengthening collaboration between state chapters and increasing NAWOJ’s presence in both media and policymaking spaces. Her tenure was defined by several landmark initiatives, such as national training programmes tailored for women journalists, strategic engagement with policy-makers on gender issues in the media, and a sustained push for press freedom, journalist safety, and women’s rights in and beyond the newsroom.

One of her notable achievements was advocating for and securing legal status for NAWOJ, laying the institutional foundation that continues to support the association’s operations and impact today. She also played a key role in positioning Nigerian female journalists on the international stage by encouraging NAWOJ’s participation in global forums.

In 2015, Onyilo founded the Initiative for Women’s Accelerated Development in Africa (INWOAD), an NGO focused on mobilizing women to actively participate in national development and campaigning against discrimination faced by women and girls across the continent.

Reacting to the honour, INWOAD described the award as a “well-deserved tribute” to a leader whose enduring legacy continues to inspire. “Her leadership instilled professionalism, mentorship, and solidarity among women journalists, paving the way for new generations of female media professionals,” the organisation said in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Lydia Samson.

The NUJ award highlights the long-term impact of Onyilo’s leadership, with many of the reforms and advocacy frameworks she introduced still shaping journalism practice and gender inclusion in media institutions across Nigeria.

INWOAD expressed gratitude to the NUJ National President and executives for recognizing the contributions of their founder, describing the honour as a testament to the power of service-driven leadership and the importance of preserving the legacies of women who have helped transform Nigeria’s media landscape.